In the absence of big initiative battles or high-profile, big money candidates slugging it out, we are left with, what we are left with. Primarily, that's the question of which little known Republican will emerge from the open primary into the November run-off with Governor Jerry Brown.

Now, having vanquished a massively over-funded opponent, Brown may face off against a massively under-funded opponent. Whitman got 41 percent of the vote for her $180 million. It will be interesting to see how different the results are in 2014, if at all.

Championing what he calls "prudence, not exuberance," Governor Jerry Brown on Tuesday rolled out the annual "May Revise" of his proposed California state budget. How's it playing? Oh, and what's the play?

Mayor Gavin Newsom has entered the race for Lieutenant Governor, a job he ridiculed while running for Governor -- and his supporters include San Franciscans who figure it's an opportunity to get rid of him.

Far right leaders see the tax issue and the open primary issue -- in which the two top vote-getters in a primary race, regardless of party ID, would face off in the general election -- as inextricably linked.